Best Air Conditioners for Your Garage [2019 Review]

We all know that working on projects in your garage in the summer can be absolutely miserable. How is it that garages get so hot?

Most people would never consider getting an air conditioner to cool down their garage, but it can make a big difference in your happiness and quality of life if you do a lot of projects in your garage area. Read on to learn about the best units for your garage!

Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC12RD1

Aspects to Consider When Buying a Garage Air Conditioner

Keep in mind some of the following qualities when searching for a garage air conditioner:

Size

We all know space is at a premium when it comes to both storage and a working area within your garage. You are going to want to find a unit that will not take up too much space but will still effectively keep the area cool.

Noise

This is probably less of an issue within a garage space than it would be, say, in your living room, but noise definitely still has an impact. You do not want to be struggling to be heard when working on a project with multiple people because of the noise produced by your AC unit.

Energy Efficiency

The thing about portable air conditioners is that they usually consume quite a bit of energy. If you pay attention to a unit’s EER, or Energy Efficient Rating, you can determine just how much energy a unit will expend relative to other units.

Review of the Best Garage Air Conditioners

Now that you know what to keep in mind, let’s check out some actual products!

Our Review

The Black + Decker 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is the number one choice when it comes to garage air conditioners. We all know how space comes at a premium in garages, and your biggest concern with getting an air conditioning unit may be the amount of rearranging you will have to do in order to make room for it. Never fear – with this Black + Decker unit, you will not have to worry about that at all! It is on the smaller side and will easily fit into whatever space you have available.

It also has a number of convenient features, including an exhaust hose that is efficient at not letting heat back into the garage and not having to frequently empty the water pan. It can be operated by remote control, so you do not always have to be right next to it, and it has multiple functions – it can both cool and dehumidify. It cools large areas quickly and effectively and will make it so you are no longer sweating your face off when doing projects in your garage.

Bottom Line

The Black + Decker 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is an excellent option for your garage and is our top choice. Just know that it may need frequent cleaning.

Our Review

The Honeywell MN10CESWW is our runner-up choice for best garage air conditioner, and it is easy to see why. If you are looking for a unit that is incredibly easy to operate and will effectively cool your garage to a comfortable working temperature for projects, look no farther than the Honeywell MN10CESWW.

It comes with crystal clear directions that will provide for a simple installation process. Once it is installed, it is also quite easy to use, and even easier to maintain. The only work you will ever have to do to keep this air conditioner up and running is to occasionally vacuum the filter foam at the back of the unit to get rid of dust - something you would have to do with all units anyway. No need to constantly be draining the water from this bad boy!

Bottom Line

The Honeywell MN10CESWW is an effective air conditioner that will keep your garage cool and make your life easier in the process. Just now that it is on the louder end of the spectrum, though that can also be nice when it comes to blocking out exterior sounds.

Our Review

The Honeywell 525 CFM is an extremely powerful air conditioning unit that is also quite portable and can be effectively moved around your garage or even taken elsewhere. It is lightweight and rolls on caster wheels, so you will not expend a large amount of effort when moving this thing. It is versatile enough to cool a large variety of different areas and it even has UV protection so it can be effectively used outdoors, and users report that it works well when cooling off large patio areas.

The fan has four different speed settings, and even when on the lowest setting it is still quite powerful. The unit also has two vertical airflow adjustment settings and one motorized horizontal airflow setting, so you can really customize where you would like it to blow cold air. It is easy to use, with a garden hose nozzle for refilling the water tank and a fill door which is well-shaped to prevent spills.

Bottom Line

The Honeywell 525 CFM is an awesome product that can easily be moved to wherever will best cool your garage. It is a bit on the large side, though size does not necessarily translate into weight with this air conditioner.

Too Heavy to be Moved by Just One Person, Will Require Two People to Transport It

Our Review

The Honeywell HL10CESWW Contempo Series is an excellent, multi-functional air conditioner that will keep your garage as cool as a cucumber. It is smaller than many of the other units available on the market, so it can be easily tucked away into a discreet corner of your workspace.

If you want air circulation but not necessarily cooling, you can just use the fan function, and if it is super humid and you need some relief, this unit provides a dehumidifier function as well. You can also adjust the angles of the air vents so you can get cool air blowing exactly where you would like it.

Best of all, this unit can be programmed to shut off at a predetermined time, so you never have to worry about forgetting to turn it off when you are done with your projects and accidentally leaving it going (and running up your energy bill) all night.

Bottom Line

The Honeywell HL10CESWW Contempo Series is an ideal garage air conditioner with a lot of convenient functions. It is on the heavier side, so plan to have another person on hand if you are trying to move it.

Our Review

The Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Portable Air Conditioner is probably the best-looking air conditioning unit you will ever see – so if you have an overall look for your garage that you are not trying to disrupt, this unit will fit right in.

Also, if you are a technology nut, this device is actually super cool. It is enabled with smart features that give you the opportunity to control the air conditioner from afar, so if you are anticipating knocking out some garage projects after work, you can turn this unit on while you are on your way home and arrive at an already cooled off garage. It is also capable of reading the current temperature inside your garage so you know exactly what temperature you need to set it to. If you are looking for an air conditioning unit that will make your life easier, look no further than the Frigidaire Cool Connect.

Bottom Line

The Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Portable Air Conditioner is an amazing choice that you will never tire of operating. It is a bit on the louder side, so just know that going in.

When it is First Running it Can Be on the Louder Side, But That Noise Will Reduce as it moves into its cycles

Our Review

The Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC12RD1 is fantastically simple and easy to use, and will effectively cool large garage areas in a snap. It is straightforward to set up and to program the different settings. It is also on the smaller side, making it ideal to be tucked away into a corner of your garage, or moved into storage when the hotter months are over, allowing that space in your garage to be used for other projects.

Because it is sleek and modern, it will not stick out like a sore thumb no matter where you put it, so this unit could also be used inside the house on really hot days. It has an economy mode to keep your energy costs low and help save our planet a little. It also has a fan mode for times when you need air circulated but maybe not necessarily cooled. And its warranty system really cannot be beaten – you will get a one year warranty overall, three years for the parts, and five years for the compressor. Difficult to get better than that!Bottom Line

The Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC12RD1 is an awesome air conditioner that can be stored basically wherever you need it, thanks to its smaller size. It can be on the louder side when it is first running but will quiet down as it cycles through.

Types of Garage Air Conditioners

It is best to know the different types of garage units available before you invest in one:

Smart Air Conditioners

​Everything is online these days and your air conditioner is no exception. Smart units can be enabled with WiFi and controlled from afar, so you can set your garage temperature before you even venture out.

Dual Hose Air Conditioners

​If your garage is on the larger side, you will likely want a dual hose unit. Units with dual hoses have separate hose systems for cooling air and expelling hot air, which makes them more efficient and effective.

Multi-Function Air Conditioners

In today’s day and age, nothing has just one purpose. Multi-functional air conditioners can also serve as fans, dehumidifiers, and even heaters – which can really come in handy for keeping your garage warm in the winter months as well.

Benefits of Investing in a Great Air Conditioner for Your Garage

If you are going to bite the bullet and get a garage unit, you might as well get one that is high quality. Check out the reasons why:

Durability

Like anything in your garage, air conditioners will likely require repair at some point. But imagine trying to repair the thing that is supposed to keep you cool while you are doing other repairs! With a quality model, you will be able to delay the day you will need to touch up your unit.

Effectiveness

You get what you pay for and higher quality air conditioners are obviously more effective. It can get pretty heated in a garage when you are working on projects, and can you really put a price on your own comfort?

Mobility

The better designed your air conditioner, the easier it will be for you to move it around. This comes in handy when you are working on projects in different areas in your garage, or even if you want to switch your unit in and out of your house as well.

Conclusion

There is no reason why you need to suffer through heat waves in your garage in silence – make your life exponentially better by investing in a garage air conditioner! Keep in mind the specific size of your garage and the cooling needs you will have when selecting the right unit for your garage and budget, and you will never look back.

People Also Ask

Below are some frequently asked questions:

Can You Cool a Garage Effectively?

You may be wondering if it is even worth it to invest in a garage air conditioner when a garage typically has very little insulation and may not be effectively cooled. The answer is that any enclosed space can be cooled, but some may take more effort than others. The draftier your garage, the more efficient a product you will need.

How Often Should I Clean My Garage Air Conditioner?

If you do not clean your air conditioner, odds are eventually its performance will likely be impacted. The amount of use you put into your air conditioner will likely impact how often you need to clean it. If you are running that thing constantly, you should probably check in every couple of weeks to clear out the dust from the back of your unit and ensure optimal performance.

How Big of an Air Conditioner Do I Need For My Garage?

It really depends on the size of your garage. What you will need to look out for when shopping for a unit is the BTU level – this will indicate the amount of space the unit is expected to keep cool. The larger the garage, obviously the higher BTU and larger air conditioner you will need.

How Much Does It Cost to Install an Air Conditioner in a Garage?

Beyond the initial cost of the air conditioner and the time and effort to install it – which can vary widely across different types of models – it should not really cost you anything to install a portable air conditioner in your garage. Though, some units may require purchasing additional insulation if your garage is particularly drafty.